I have had tanks for years and used hob filters and canisters. I think I am ready to upgrade to a sump, or wet dry... not even sure if that is the same thing. looked thru diy and stuff, not sure what to start looking for to start the process. It will be going on a 6 ft long 125 front tank. can you please point me in the right direction for info, maybe the right keywords to use to search with?
where to start?
- Thread starter jeepsnfish125
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A wet dry and a sump are similar. It has more to do with configuration than anything else that seperates the two. When water overflows from a tank into a sump in some cases the water will trickle through filter sponges or bioballs that are not submerged..that is a wet/dry. The overall container is the sump. So, some sumps will not have a wet/dry section. If you are planning on building this yourself I am first going to recommend what I did. I used a 50G storage container, placed a smaller container in that one on short legs and filled the smaller container with filter media. Water flows from the tank, into the small container through my filter media (wet/dry) and then into the big container wheee it is pumped back onto my tank. You will need to decide whether you want to drill your tank for bulkhead fittings or go with an overflow box(s). I recommend overflow boxes that are self starting. I would leave you some links to good boxes, but I am on my cell phone. If you take a look at my build thread below, my sump is on the last pages.
A sump is not always an upgrade from a canister (or other filter), but they often are...
What are the goals of your filtration? what aspect of your current filtration are you trying to improve? what about your current filtration are you not satisified with? What about your current filtration do you like and therefore need to keep?
Compare it to getting a new car. Buying a more expensive car is not always an upgrade. It all depends on the individual. If saving gas is your primary goal than buying a big expensive SUV is a downgrade, not an upgrade. Likewise if you have a family of 6 you need to get around town, buying a high end sports car (although very nice) is not a practical upgrade.
A sump will increase the water volume of your overall system, which is always a good thing...
The majority of sumps out there do not offer very thorough mechanical fitlratoin. They can be set up to do so, but few actually take the steps to do so.
Sumps can utilize a wet/dry fitler which is a very efficient way to offer bio filtration. But it's quite rare to have a situation where a wet/dry is "needed" to offer thorough bio filtration.
"A sump" is a very generic statement. There are countless ways to set up a sump and how you set it up can make all the difference in the world.
What are the goals of your filtration? what aspect of your current filtration are you trying to improve? what about your current filtration are you not satisified with? What about your current filtration do you like and therefore need to keep?
Compare it to getting a new car. Buying a more expensive car is not always an upgrade. It all depends on the individual. If saving gas is your primary goal than buying a big expensive SUV is a downgrade, not an upgrade. Likewise if you have a family of 6 you need to get around town, buying a high end sports car (although very nice) is not a practical upgrade.
A sump will increase the water volume of your overall system, which is always a good thing...
The majority of sumps out there do not offer very thorough mechanical fitlratoin. They can be set up to do so, but few actually take the steps to do so.
Sumps can utilize a wet/dry fitler which is a very efficient way to offer bio filtration. But it's quite rare to have a situation where a wet/dry is "needed" to offer thorough bio filtration.
"A sump" is a very generic statement. There are countless ways to set up a sump and how you set it up can make all the difference in the world.
good info, my current 125 gal mixed african tank has a fx5 and a emperor 400, everything works very well, just looking to keep the cost down on the next one. will a sump be a cheaper initial investment? i have a 55 i could use for the sump, just no pumps, overflow boxes or piping, valves, ect.
Try Google searching trickle filter theory on line and looking at Images. Lots of different solutions.
I found in my search for DIY the recuring theme to be fairly large basin for the containment of large bio-capacity, and the use of plastic and pvc. Glass tanks are heavy and less forgiving in terms of trial-and-error, and submersible pumps for the return vs. external.
Once you understand the whole overflow-trickle-return theory, set-up is usually pretty straight forward. Understanding how the starting and stopping and re-starting process works and how to avoid overflowing the set-up, I have every confidence in this type of filtration.
I found in my search for DIY the recuring theme to be fairly large basin for the containment of large bio-capacity, and the use of plastic and pvc. Glass tanks are heavy and less forgiving in terms of trial-and-error, and submersible pumps for the return vs. external.
Once you understand the whole overflow-trickle-return theory, set-up is usually pretty straight forward. Understanding how the starting and stopping and re-starting process works and how to avoid overflowing the set-up, I have every confidence in this type of filtration.
One of the biggest 'problems' with sumps is it is difficult (but not impossible) to design the intake so it collects waste that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank... Most people overlook this step and then need to supplement the sump with a canister or HOB.
In my opinion, if you need to supplement your sump with another filter you designed it wrong...
In my opinion, if you need to supplement your sump with another filter you designed it wrong...
Nutcase makes a good point regarding picking up waste from lower in the tank. It is difficult to get a design that will accomplish this. Most of the time it involves designing the return lines and the pick up line to work together to move the waste to an area where the intake can get it. As far as whether a sump is cheaper...I have about $350 in my dual sump system that is filtering a 315G tank. That includes, containers, filter media, pumps, bulkhead fitting and assorted other little odds and ends. 2 Fx5s would have ran me about $400 so I'd say its cheaper. Good overflows can set you back a few coins, thats something I didnt have to deal with. Here are some I have looked at in the past that I hear good things about.
http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html
http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html
In my opinion, if you need to supplement your sump with another filter you designed it wrong...[/QUOTE]
Agreed. However, the purpose of my sump to be particular, is bio filtration. Granted, I have very efficient pre and mechanical filtration as part of the whole set-up, but it isnt separate. I dont WANT all that crud in the filter, so I make sure to vacuum it out every water change(50% twice weekly). The crud that does accumulate is pushed into the areas of the tank with little turbulance and that has been accomplished by directing the return nozzles accordingly. When its time to vacuum, all the crud is gathered neatly for removal.
My experience with canisters( and any filter with a down tube for that matter) is the pick-up is not enough to prevent detritus from fouling the substrate. Regularly vacuuming the substrate is still a very important and necassary part of tank maintenance and NO filter will elliminate that.
Agreed. However, the purpose of my sump to be particular, is bio filtration. Granted, I have very efficient pre and mechanical filtration as part of the whole set-up, but it isnt separate. I dont WANT all that crud in the filter, so I make sure to vacuum it out every water change(50% twice weekly). The crud that does accumulate is pushed into the areas of the tank with little turbulance and that has been accomplished by directing the return nozzles accordingly. When its time to vacuum, all the crud is gathered neatly for removal.
My experience with canisters( and any filter with a down tube for that matter) is the pick-up is not enough to prevent detritus from fouling the substrate. Regularly vacuuming the substrate is still a very important and necassary part of tank maintenance and NO filter will elliminate that.